jhesp Journal of Health Systems and Policies 2667-4920 2718-0050 İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi 10.52675/jhesp.869997 Health Care Administration Sağlık Kurumları Yönetimi Effects of Short Birth Interval on Birth Outcomes among Term Pregnant Mothers in Labor https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4524-7122 Korsa Ebba Make Your Mark International https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4255-4285 Ibrahim Fozia Armauer Hansen Research Institute https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0265-218X Hajito Kifle Woldemichael Jimma University 05 10 2021 3 1 55 74 01 28 2021 02 16 2021 Copyright © 2018, Journal of Health Systems and Policies 2018 Journal of Health Systems and Policies

Short birth interval is a global public health problem that remains challenging in Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the effects of short birth interval on birth outcomes among term pregnant mothers in labor in Nekemte, Ethiopia. An institution-based prospective cohort-study with a convenient sampling technique was conducted from February 01 to March 30, 2016. A total of 207 term pregnant mothers were enrolled with the ratio of 1:2 women with short birth intervals and actualbirth intervals. The data collected using a structured questionnaire was analyzed by SPSS version 20. Women with short birth intervals were more likely to have premature rupture of membrane, prolonged labor, preeclampsia, and risk of malposition or malpresentation compared to women with actual birth intervals. Women with short birth intervals also had babies with low birth weight, low APGAR score, respiratory distress, risk of having early age for gestational growth, early neonatal death, and anemicnewborn babies compared to women with actual birth intervals. Therefore, the findings of this study revealed that short birth intervals had a significant influence on both maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

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